What's Required in Albuquerque
- A building permit is required for any detached shed over 120 square feet; up to 120 square feet is exempt (UAC 109.2.1).
- Electrical or plumbing to any shed requires its own trade permit, even when the building itself is exempt.
- Accessory buildings may not be in the required front setback and, combined, may cover no more than 25 percent of the side and rear yards (IDO 5-11(C)(4)).
- Walls less than 5 feet from a property line must be one-hour fire-resistive construction.
- Submit a site plan, floor plan, wall section, roof frame plan, foundation plan and elevations drawn to scale.
- Design to the city criteria: 16 inch frost depth, 115 mph three-second-gust wind, 20 psf ground snow load.
- The permit is issued only to the owner-occupant or a New Mexico GB-2 or GB-98 general contractor.
- Plan review (65 percent of the permit fee) is paid at submittal; the application expires if the permit is not issued within six months.
Do you need a permit to build a shed in Albuquerque?
Only if it is bigger than 120 square feet. The city's 2024 Uniform Administrative Code (UAC 109.2.1) says a building permit is not required for one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the building area does not exceed 120 square feet. A 10x12 shed is exactly 120 square feet and stays exempt; a 10x14 (140 square feet) needs a permit. The exemption is for the building only: the same section says separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are still required, so running power to an exempt shed means an electrical permit.
Zoning applies whether or not you need a building permit. The Integrated Development Ordinance (5-11(C)(4)) keeps accessory buildings out of the required front setback, caps all accessory buildings together at 25 percent of the combined side and rear yards, and says an accessory building has no required setback from a lot line unless the IDO says otherwise. The Building Safety handout adds a building-code condition: walls less than 5 ft from a property line must be one-hour fire-resistive construction.
How much does a shed permit cost in Albuquerque?
Building permit fees come from UAC Table 112-A, based on the job valuation, and the table result is multiplied by the city's 0.50 regional modifier for one- and two-family homes (minimum $23.50). Plan review is 65 percent of the permit fee and is paid at submittal. Two worked examples using the city's valuation figure for garages and sheds, $34.99 per square foot:
- 140 sq ft (10x14) shed, the size in the city's own handout example: 140 x $34.99 = $4,899 valuation. Table 112-A gives $69.25 plus $14.00 per $1,000 over $2,000 = $111.25; x 0.50 = $55.63 permit + $36.16 plan review = $91.79.
- 240 sq ft (12x20) shed: 240 x $34.99 = $8,398. Table 112-A: $69.25 + 7 x $14.00 = $167.25; x 0.50 = $83.63 permit + $54.36 plan review = $137.99.
Add the zoning review the FAQ mentions ($25 for buildings under 4,000 square feet on the Building Safety fee handout; the 2025 General Planning Fee Schedule lists a $45 submittal total for the same review), which puts a typical permitted shed at roughly $92 to $138 in Building Safety fees plus $25 to $45 for zoning. One caveat on valuation: a regulation adopted in April 2026 moves the city to the February 2021 ICC valuation table for applications received from July 1, 2026, so the $34.99 figure on the older handout may be revised upward. The applicant states the value on the application and the Building Official can set it.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 10x12 shed (120 sq ft), no wiring | No building permit | UAC 109.2.1 exempts detached accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft; IDO placement rules still apply. |
| 10x12 shed with a light and outlet | Electrical permit only | Exempt items still need trade permits: $47 administrative charge plus $1.50 per outlet. |
| 10x14 shed (140 sq ft) on a slab | Building permit + plan review | Over 120 sq ft. About $92 at a $4,899 valuation plus zoning review. |
| 12x20 shed (240 sq ft) | Building permit + plan review | About $138 at an $8,398 valuation plus zoning review; drainage plan if over 500 sq ft. |
| Shed within 5 ft of the property line | Building permit if over 120 sq ft | No zoning setback on interior lots, but walls under 5 ft from the line must be one-hour rated. |
| Shed in the front yard | Not allowed | IDO 5-11(C)(4)(a): accessory buildings may not sit in the required front setback. |
| Shed with a bathroom or sink | Building + plumbing permits | Plumbing permit: $47 administrative charge plus $10 per fixture. |
Who can pull the permit and how long does it take?
The handout says the permit will only be issued to a homeowner or a general contractor (GB-2 or GB-98) licensed in New Mexico. A homeowner's permit means signing the notarized Homeowner's Affidavit, and the city allows no more than one homeowner's permit to the same owner in a 12-month period. Homes leased to others need a licensed contractor to pull the permit. Apply through ABQ-PLAN with a site plan showing the distance to property lines and existing structures, a floor plan, a wall section, a roof frame plan, a foundation plan and elevations. The FAQ says residential plan review typically takes approximately two and a half weeks; the application expires if the permit is not issued within six months. Inspections run foundation, frame and final, and the design criteria are a 16 in frost depth, 115 mph wind and 20 psf snow load.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Albuquerque
Measure and check zoning
Confirm whether the floor area exceeds 120 square feet, and check the IDO placement rules: not in the front setback, and no more than 25 percent of the side and rear yards.
Draw the plans
Prepare a site plan with distances to lot lines and buildings, a floor plan, wall section, roof frame plan, foundation plan and elevations, plus an electrical layout if wiring the shed.
Apply in ABQ-PLAN
Upload the plans as a homeowner (notarized affidavit) or through a GB-2/GB-98 contractor, and pay the plan review fee (65 percent of the permit fee) and zoning review.
Plan review and permit issuance
Residential review runs about two and a half weeks. Answer any correction emails, then pay the permit fee (Table 112-A times 0.50) to have the permit issued.
Build and call inspections
Post the permit on site and request the foundation, frame and final inspections through ABQ-PLAN or at 505-924-3320 as the work progresses.